Country in the Park set

Award-winning singer and songwriter Phil Vassar, Jana Kramer of "One Tree Hill" and "Friday Night Lights" fame and the Tony Marques Band will headline the sixth Country in the Park outdoor concert and festival May 12.

Presented by Mountain's Edge master-planned community and Vegas Country, KWNR, 95.5-FM radio, the free event will be held 2 to 7:30 p.m. at the amphitheater in the community's Exploration Park, 9700 S. Buffalo Drive.

"We are thrilled to be teaming with Mountain's Edge for the second year to give Las Vegas families a day of live country music in the park," said Rik McNeil, program director for KWNR. "Country in the Park is a great event for the entire family to enjoy some wholesome family fun at no cost."

For information on how to win entry into the Vegas Country 95.5 KWNR VIP section for the day, visit www.kwnr.com (key word Country in the Park).

"We appreciate our partnership with Vegas Country 95.5 KWNR, which has helped make Country in the Park even better. We have another great lineup, and I look forward to seeing everyone kick up their heels at Exploration Park," said Jason Thompson, community development manager for Focus Property Group, developer of the Mountain's Edge master plan.

The Tony Marques Band opens the show from 2-4 p.m., followed by Jana Kramer from 5-5:45 p.m. and culminating with Phil Vassar from 6-7:30 p.m. Additionally, the event includes a beer garden, food vendors and booths and exhibits.

Attendees are invited to bring picnic baskets, blankets and chairs and enjoy the entire day at the community's Exploration Park.

The 80-acre park offers a Western village, play structures, archaeological dig area, splash pad and the 2,846-foot-tall Exploration Peak with hiking and cycling trails.

Vassar boasts numerous hit songs written for top country artists and many more hits as an artist in his own right. Among his accolades, he's been named the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Songwriter of the Year twice and taken top honors from the Academy of Country Music, and also was honored at the Country Music Awards.

He's a Billboard Magazine Top New Country Artist, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, Music Row Magazine Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and ACM Top New Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of The Year.

Vassar's latest single and album is "Don't Miss Your Life."

Kramer is a singer, songwriter and actress whose three successful songs were featured on The CW network's "One Tree Hill," where she plays the firecracker actress, Alex Dupre.

Kramer's fourth song, "Why Ya Wanna" debuted on the show earlier this year, and she also recently debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Marques (pronounced Mar-cus) has entertained at all past Country in the Park events.

A self-taught singer, songwriter and acoustic guitar player, he has performed around the world with top country stars, and at NASCAR, National Finals Rodeo, Professional Bull Riders Association and Academy of Country Music Awards events.

Marques and his band have backed up Toby Keith numerous times when Keith has stopped in unannounced at his Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill at Harrah's, Las Vegas. He was handpicked to be the venue's house band for a number of years. Marques still performs there at least once a month, and at other Toby Keith's around the country.

For Country in the Park information, visit www.mountainsedge.com and www.kwnr.com (key word Country in the Park) and also learn what you can bring to help those less fortunate when the designated charity beneficiary is named. The Exploration Park concert venue is just south of the Mountain's Edge New Home Information Center at Buffalo Drive and Blue Diamond Road.